Nigeria to host 10th NADPA-RADPA conference on data protection

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The Nigerian government, represented by the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), is gearing up to host the 10th edition of the Network of African Data Protection Authorities’ (NADPA-RADPA) Conference and Annual General Meeting.

The decision comes after Nigeria emerged as the successful bidder during the 9th NADPA Annual General Meeting held in Nairobi, Kenya.

Founded in Ouagadougou in September 2016, NADPA-RAPDP comprises 23 Data Protection Authorities across Africa. Its primary aim is to foster exchanges and cooperation among its members while amplifying Africa’s voice in global partnerships.

Nigeria, which joined the network in 2022, has been actively engaged and recently took on the role of coordinator for the Regulatory Harmonization working group during the 2024 annual general meeting.

The previous 9th NADPA–RADPA Conference and Annual General Meeting in Nairobi witnessed an impressive turnout, with over 1500 individuals and organizations in attendance, including multinational corporations such as Google, Amazon Web Services, EY, and Microsoft, as well as development partners like the European Union and German Corporation, GIZ.

The upcoming 2025 edition of the conference will serve as a crucial platform for Data Protection Authorities from across Africa to convene, collaborate, and share insights on emerging trends, challenges, and best practices in data protection and privacy.

Beyond its significance in the realm of data protection, the conference is expected to bolster Nigeria’s economic growth by attracting Foreign Direct Investments and enhancing the country’s tourism sector.

Additionally, it will elevate Nigeria’s reputation as a hub for innovation and academic excellence, showcasing the country’s diverse industries and services to a global audience.

Moreover, the conference will facilitate capacity building and skill development in digital technologies, empowering individuals and organizations to thrive in the global digital economy.

With collaboration from various government agencies, multinational corporations, and development partners, NDPC is poised to co-host this prestigious event.

Experts say the multifaceted agenda of the conference promises to ignite growth, foster collaboration, and drive advancement within the data protection landscape and beyond.

Meanwhile, the NDPC has stressed the need to create at least 500,000 data protection officer roles in the country.

Vincent Olatunji, National Commissioner of the NDPC, disclosed this during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja.

He said the call for an increased number of data protection officers aligns with the National Board for Technical Education’s directive to unbundle the Higher National Diploma Computer Science course into four specialized areas, including Artificial Intelligence, Networking and Cloud Computing, Software and Web Development, and Cybersecurity and Data Protection.